In making Explosion! a whole host of specialist subcontractors - audio-visual specialists, model-makers, graphic designers, computer animators worked on different parts of the project. At the same time the museum's small band of conservators, technicians and volunteers have prepared many of the artefacts which are featured in the exhibition.

The work was finished in February 2001 and then, after a period of testing and trials, the museum was fully open to the public in March 2001. The galleries and displays that have been created represent the first phase of development for the museum.

Explosion! was set up as a Charity and the Trustees of the museum were  legally required to ensure that it trades solvently and that its national collection of key naval objects is looked after and made available to the public. Special events, lectures and education programmes support the core work of the museum.

The Trustees were convinced that this award-winning museum and visitor attraction is the keystone to the development of the rest of the Council-owned Priddy’s Hard site. The income and rents from this were always intended in due course to cover and indeed exceed the costs of the museum.  In the long-term the Museum and Priddy's Hard will regenerate the local area and more than return Gosport's financial investment.

The site development has been delayed and, although the link road is now at last in place, the water-bus is still awaited. Visitor numbers, in common with other similar attractions, have thus proved less than forecast in the Business Plan originally approved by the Council.  To help meet short-term needs, running costs and opening hours of the museum have been reduced.

The longer-term future of the Priddy's Hard site and its keystone Museum is full of potential. The project will now be run directly by Gosport Borough Council.

It is intended that later phases will be developed using the buildings which currently house the extensive reserve collections opposite the Grand Magazine and the impressive 'E'-magazine, sited in the ramparts and reputedly constructed from no less than three million bricks. These substantial buildings have the potential to house additional galleries, including a multi-media naval battle experience adding further dimensions to the Priddy's Hard story.

There are also plans to convert other buildings within the complex to provide a climate controlled environment for the museum's extensive archive (currently stored in Winchester) and to enhance the museum's education facilities.

Many of these later developments provide exciting opportunities for corporate sponsors and individual benefactors to become involved in the project.

Details of this and other sponsorship opportunities can be obtained from Ian Lycett email:lyceig01@gosport.gov.uk

Link road is a boost for museum and local badgers

It may be a boom for Explosion!, The Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport, Hampshire but the new Heritage Way link road also benefits some of the unseen members of the local population.  Many elements of the new £5m road have been designed not for motorists, or even pedestrians… but for badgers.

Heritage Way links the busy A32 with a direct route for visitors to the popular Explosion, the Museum of Naval Firepower, which has received many awards including Specialist Museum of the Year. Construction at the site was initially delayed to accommodate the needs of the badgers.

A special walkway and fencing prevent the area’s badgers from encountering traffic along the 2.25km stretch. There are also several kilometers of badger-proof fencing and three culverts under the road surface to enable badgers to cross safely from one side to the other.  The road was built by Barratt Homes.

Heritage Way was officially opened on Wednesday 31 July 2002 by the Deputy Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Mrs Iris Binfield.  An official party of councillors and local business leaders made the inaugural drive down the road in open top buses after bursting through a banner and setting off explosions.